Season 1, Episode 7Written by Harley PeytonDirected by Caleb Deschanel

This episode is a slow burn that sets things up to be knocked out of the park for the upcoming first season finale. Memories of my original viewing are few, but I can recall being impressed at how Cooper handled Audrey being in his room. I also recall Nick pretending to be devastated at the ruined donuts, something I guess I absorbed myself for future watchings. [Read more…]

I only remember a few things about this episode from my first viewing: Nick, who had a major thing for Sherlyn Fenn (he had a Boxing Helena movie poster in his dorm room, as I recall), going “Zing!” when Audrey told Cooper she was 18 at the start. One of the girls in the dorm lounge who was watching with us demanded we watch another episode immediately after the little cliff-hanger ending with Audrey as well. Oh, and over the course of repeated watchings, the songs that the Icelanders sing are now permanently accessible in my head, which is kinda cool.

Really, Mark Frost delivered one of my favorite episodes with this one because of various scenes: all the investigating, including a trip to the Log Lady’s and Jacques’s cabin. Major Briggs at family therapy. Audrey beginning her investigation. The whole Icelander visit. Oh, plus Leo gets beaten up and shot. Anything bad happening to Leo makes for a good episode in my book blog! [Read more…]

My memories of my original viewing of this episode are spotty, but a few things do stand out in my mind: My friend Nick remarking on how he loved Cooper’s reaction when Andy drops his gun. My own amazement (No, that’s too strong a word. Mild surprise?) in finding out that Andy and Lucy were a couple. (I’d somehow missed the earlier, more subtle indications.) Everyone in the dorm lounge bursting out in laughter due to the llama moment. Oh, and, this being the first episode with the now iconic sketch of BOB, I’m fairly sure that Nick wore his “Have you seen this man?” t-shirt–the same type of which I would get for myself on a trip to Snoqualmie a year or so later. [Read more…]

It’s been almost a week since I got a Twin Peaks re-watch post up here. They’ll resume shortly. It’s just that since last Thursday I was busy selling books and communing with other geeks at the 40th annual Seattle sci-fi & fantasy con known as Norwescon! I had a great time, sold some books, hung out with fellow authors Tiffany Pitts, Camela Thompson, and Janine Southard, went to a few panels, and almost made it to the final round in a gigantic Cards Against Humanity tournament.

I also took a lot of pictures! While you wait for the next Twin Peaks post, please enjoy a slice of my experience, captured through my less-than-perfect phone camera!

Fairy godmothers, with coffee. So many people wanted a picture of these three that they didn’t know where to look.

Still more great attention to detail.

He checked out. Not a ghost. (Damn, I look tired, huh? All that extroversion is exhausting!)

An excellent Klingon.

Dude! You need to put a leash on that thing!

Pyramid Head! She accidentally bumped into someone a few moments later. Not great visibility in that thing, but it looked great!

Zeus Is Dead did amazing sales. People kept telling me the title and the cover pulled them in. (That’s a chocolate Serenity in front there. Also made by Tiffany, we were giving them away with a book purchase.)

I had a great time, but after 4 straight days of stepping out of my comfort zone and interacting with so many people, I came home Sunday evening and pretty much collapsed! 😀

By this time on my original viewing experience (being shown the series by my friend Nick in my college dorm, as you may recall), our Twin Peaks viewings had collected other viewings, and had snowballed to at least half a dozen other regulars. I think this was about when we started knocking on doors of some people before we watched an episode, just to make sure they wouldn’t get mad at us if they missed anything.

As for this specific episode, I remember Nick cracking a joke during the funeral when the priest talked about loving Laura that implied that he was sleeping with her, too. Given what goes on in this town, I admit I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if that were actually canon. (And now I wish I could remember anything from my single read of The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer years ago.) [Read more…]

Season 1, Episode 3 Written by Mark Frost & David Lynch Directed by David Lynch

This may be one of my favorite episodes of the whole series. Though I was already interested in the show by this point on my first viewing, I’m pretty sure the rocks & bottles weirdness and the dream sequence at the end just knocked it out of the park for me. Not to mention this is, if I recall correctly, when Albert shows up. Albert was Nick’s favorite. He was practically beside himself grinning at his first appearance. When I later showed the series to other people myself, I was just the same as Nick had been, if not more.

…At least I think this episode has all that stuff? Time to find out if my memory is as good as I think it is about all of this… [Read more…]

Season 1, Episode 2Written by Mark Frost & David LynchDirected by Duwayne Dunham

Ah, the first non-pilot episode! Things look a little more polished. The sets are built, and this episode has more vibrant color than the pilot, which is mostly a characteristic that carries on through the rest of the series. I’ve always assumed that’s chest one of those changes that happens between the production of any pilot episode and when the show is picked up. More than the pilot, this episode really feels more like Twin Peaks. Maybe it’s that visual difference. Maybe it’s the additional quirkiness (not that the pilot wasn’t quirky), like Sheriff Truman shoving an entire donut into his mouth, Cooper ending a long list of directives with “Harry, I really have to urinate,” or a fish in the percolator.

I don’t have many specific memories of my initial viewing, but I do recall getting startled by the first real shot of BOB, and asking Nick who that was. Nick: “That’s BOB.” Me: “Yeah, he’s definitely not Bobby.” [Read more…]